St. Joseph's/Candler earns fifth Magnet Recognition for Nursing Excellence
For the fifth time, nurses at St. Joseph’s/Candler have proven to provide the highest level of nursing care, earning The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition for Nursing Excellence. The health care system first earned Magnet Recognition in 2002, and was re-recognized in 2006, 2010, 2015 and 2020. There are only 22 other health systems in the world who have earned a fifth designation. St. Joseph’s/Candler is one of only seven Magnet-designated facilities in Georgia and among more than 500 in the world.
Established in 1994, the Magnet designation is the highest level of recognition that can be accomplished by organized nursing services in the national and international healthcare communities. The Magnet model is designed to provide a framework for nursing practice, research and measurement of outcomes. Through this framework, ANCC can assess applicants across a number of components and dimensions to gauge an organization’s nursing excellence. The foundation of this model is composed of various elements deemed essential to delivering superior patient care. These include the quality of nursing leadership and coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care.
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How St. Joseph’s/Candler earned its fifth Magnet Recognition
St. Joseph’s/Candler showed the Magnet appraisers how our nurses were able to improve patient outcomes. To achieve initial Magnet recognition and then re-designation, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread participation from leadership and staff. The process begins with the submission of an electronic application, followed by written documentation demonstrating qualitative and quantitative evidence regarding patient care and outcomes. If scores from the written documentation fall within a range of excellence, an onsite visit will occur to thoroughly assess the applicant. After this rigorous onsite review process, the Commission on Magnet will review the completed appraisal report and vote to determine whether Magnet recognition will be granted.
An organization seeking to reapply for Magnet recognition must provide documented evidence of how Magnet concepts, performance and quality were sustained and improved over the four-year period since the hospital received its prior recognition.
What does Magnet mean for our patients?
Independent research has shown that Magnet hospitals have better outcomes in safety practices and better communication in problem solving. Other benefits include:
- Higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, availability of help and receipt of discharge information
- Lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure to rescue
- Higher job satisfaction among nurses
- Lower nurse reports of intentions to leave position
- A 10.3 percent lower fall rate
- A 5 percent decrease in hospital-acquired pressure ulcers
- A 33 percent reduction in needle stick injuries
In-State Magnet Consortium
There are currently seven organizations in Georgia that have received Magnet Recognition. When St. Joseph’s/Candler first was recognized in 2002, it was only the second hospital in Georgia to earn the honor. The other current Magnet facilities in Georgia are: Atlanta VA Medical Center (Decatur); Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital (Atlanta); Emory University Hospital (Atlanta); Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital (Tucker); The Medical Center, Navicent Health (Macon); and University Hospital (Augusta). Georgia’s Magnet facilities have started an in-state consortium. Leaders from the hospitals meet at least twice a year to share ideas, discuss practices and more.